One thing I don't like about this game are the "open space" sections where you have to shoot a series of approaching ships. Without the ground below as a point of reference, it can be awfully frustrating to determine if you're on a collision course with them. Otherwise Zaxxon is pure arcade shooting fun, and there's really never been another game like it.

Zaxxon can be an acquired taste due to the unusual camera angle but those that stick with it will experience a unique shooter that's incredibly addictive. It's very faithful to the Arcade original and clearly shows how advanced the Colecovision was compared to its competitors.

And, as you probably suspected, this version of the game blows away Zaxxon for the Atari 2600. In terms of graphics, sound effects and gameplay, it is a much more faithful translation of the original Arcade game.

Zaxxon was a game that was way ahead of its time. It was clear that Sega wanted to make a bold stride into 3D, but technology wasn't there yet. It was also clear that Coleco wanted to show that they had the only second-gen console that could do Zaxxon justice, and they succeeded at that. Unfortunately, the end result is a game that impresses me in some ways but was irritating to play. It's an okay addition to the ColecoVision library; I just wish I could appreciate the whole instead of just the parts.

I won't say that Zaxxon is a horrible title. Sure, it plays better on more advanced platforms or in the arcade, but the Colecovision iteration has at least a hint of charm going for it, assuming you can get over the brain-destroying motion and sound. Once you've achieved that, the worst you might be able to ultimately say is that you could be playing a better shoot 'em up. Thankfully, you need not dig deeply to find one superior to Coleco's attempt at the arcade classic.